Gillibrand files petitions, sets up Independence primary

Update: Gillibrand’s signatures from voters enrolled in the Independence Party do not mean she will see her name on the line. The state executive committee of the party must decide whether or not to allow Gillibrand, Treadwell or anyone else not enrolled in the party to run on the line. Warren County committee chairman Andrew Trombley said the decision will be made Saturday. I don’t expect it will be in the congresswoman’s favor.

Gillibrand has already tangled with the Independents. In 2006 she sued – and lost – when she was denied a spot on the ballot. The party, which endorsed John Sweeney in ’06, has since changed its rules but may still lean Republican. Trombley carried petition papers for Sandy Treadwell this time around.

Gillibrand has filed petition papers to be listed on the Democratic, Independence and Working Families party lines. According to her staff, the freshman congresswoman collected 7,700 signatures from Democrats; 2,300 from Independence party members and 150 from voters enrolled in the Working Families party.

The law requires a would-be candidate to collect signatures from five percent of a party’s enrolled voters or, in the 20th CD, the following, whichever is less: Dem: 1,250, Rep: 1,250, Independence, 979; Conservative, 412; WF: 69.

Gillibrand ran on the Democratic and Working Families party lines in 2006 when she defeated John Sweeney. None of the Republicans expected to run in a primary for the chance to challenge Gillibrand have filed yet, but Sandy Treadwell’s staff said the candidate is going for the Independence line, which sets up a primary.